Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) and Pakistan Doctors for Peace and Development (PDPD) have jointly appealed to both the governments of India and Pakistan to immediately initiate dialogue to defuse tension at the border. Several civilians and security personnel have died in firing at the border on both the sides. Large numbers of cattle have also been killed. In addition there is loss to the property on both sides. There is migration of people staying near the border to the safer places which is affecting their day to day life adversely.
In a joint statement Dr Tipu Sultan – President PDPD, Dr S S Soodan President IDPD and Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman General Secretary IDPD have said that skirmishes at the border could trigger a larger and wider conflict. As both the countries possess nuclear weapons, in such a situation the threat of use of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out. Any such situation would be catastrophic not only for this region, but will have serious global ramifications. It is to be noted with concern that both the countries spend huge amount on arms, while the expenditure on health and education is comparatively very low.
Dr Arun Mitra –Co President International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) said that the IPPNW is much concerned about the situation in the region and has decided to organize an international seminar in Delhi on 24th and 25th March 2018 so as to highlight the need for nuclear disarmament.
